Search By Image Privacy Policy

Last updated: 3rd October 2026

1. What is Search by Image

Search by Image is a feature provided by east retails that allows you to search for products using an image.

You can take a photo using a supported device or upload an image from your photos, files or computer. The image is processed to identify visual characteristics and help find products on east retails that may be similar or relevant to the image.

Search by Image is designed to make it easier to discover products without having to manually enter a product name or description.

By using Search by Image, you acknowledge that the image you submit may be processed by east retails and third-party technology providers that help us provide the Search by Image service.

2. How Search by Image Works

When you submit an image through Search by Image, the image may be securely transmitted to a third-party artificial intelligence, image-recognition or image-processing service.

The third-party service may analyse the image to identify objects, products, visual characteristics, colours, shapes, patterns or other information that may help identify what is shown in the image.

The third-party service then provides information or results back to east retails, which may use those results to provide relevant product search results to you.

east retails does not use Search by Image to identify individual people.

3. Information We May Collect

When you use Search by Image, we may collect or process:

• The image you upload or capture.
• Information contained within the image.
• Technical information required to process and return your search.
• Information relating to your use of the Search by Image feature.
• Search results or product matches generated from your submitted image.
• Information provided by third-party image-recognition or artificial intelligence services in connection with your search.

You should avoid uploading information that is unnecessary for your product search.

4. How We Use Uploaded Images

Images submitted through Search by Image may be used to:

• Process your image and provide Search by Image functionality.
• Send the image to relevant third-party technology providers for image analysis.
• Analyse visual characteristics of the image.
• Identify products that may be similar or relevant to the submitted image.
• Generate and provide product search results.
• Maintain, operate, secure and troubleshoot the Search by Image feature.
• Detect, prevent or investigate misuse, fraud, abuse or security issues.
• Comply with applicable laws and respond to lawful requests from authorities where required or permitted.

5. Third-Party Artificial Intelligence and Technology Providers

east retails uses third-party technology providers to assist with the Search by Image feature.

These providers may use artificial intelligence, machine learning, image recognition, computer vision or similar technologies to analyse images submitted by users.

When you submit an image, it may be transmitted to one or more third-party providers for the purpose of analysing the image and returning information or results to east retails.

The third-party provider may process the image in accordance with its own privacy practices and applicable agreements with east retails.

We take reasonable steps to select and use service providers that are appropriate for the services they provide and to manage the handling of information in accordance with applicable privacy requirements.

6. Third-Party Provider Processing

The third-party service may process the image and related technical information to perform the image-analysis service requested by east retails.

Depending on the provider and technology used, the third-party provider may temporarily store, cache or retain information as necessary to provide, secure, maintain or improve its services, subject to the provider's applicable terms and privacy practices.

Where practicable, east retails will use providers and configurations appropriate for the intended purpose of Search by Image.

We do not represent that every third-party provider will permanently delete an image immediately after processing unless this is specifically stated in the applicable provider's terms or our agreement with that provider.

7. Images Containing People or Personal Information

Please avoid uploading images containing unnecessary personal, sensitive or confidential information.

This includes:

• Identification documents.
• Financial information.
• Medical information.
• Private communications.
• Passwords or authentication information.
• Personal addresses or other sensitive information.
• Photographs of people where the image is not necessary for your product search.

If you upload an image containing another person or their personal information, you are responsible for ensuring that you have the appropriate permission or legal authority to submit that image.

8. Prohibited Images

You must not upload or submit through Search by Image any image that:

• Contains nudity or sexually explicit material.
• Contains intimate images submitted without appropriate consent.
• Contains or appears to contain child sexual abuse material or sexualised images of anyone under 18.
• Depicts or promotes serious unlawful activity.
• Contains extreme or unlawful violence or graphic material.
• Is threatening, abusive, harassing or otherwise unlawful.
• Contains another person's private or confidential information without appropriate authority.
• Infringes another person's copyright, trademark, privacy or other legal rights.
• Contains malicious code or content designed to interfere with our systems.
• Is intended to abuse, manipulate, circumvent or interfere with Search by Image.
• Otherwise breaches our Search by Image Terms of use or applicable laws.

We reserve the right to reject, restrict, block or prevent the processing of an image that we reasonably believe may breach this policy, our Search by Image Terms of use, applicable law or the safety of our users or services.

9. Illegal or Serious Harmful Content

If we become aware of or reasonably suspect that an image submitted through Search by Image involves serious unlawful activity, exploitation, child sexual abuse material, threats to a person's safety, image-based abuse or other content requiring action, we may take appropriate steps.

This may include restricting access to the content, preserving relevant information where legally permitted or required, restricting or terminating access to our services, and reporting or disclosing information to law enforcement, regulators or other appropriate authorities where required or permitted by law.

We may cooperate with Australian federal, state or territory authorities, regulators and other competent authorities where appropriate.

Nothing in this policy prevents east retails from making a report or disclosure where required or authorised by law.

10. Image Storage and Retention

Uploaded images may be temporarily processed and/or stored by east retails and/or our third-party technology providers as reasonably necessary to provide, maintain, secure and operate Search by Image.

The length of time an image may be retained can depend on the technology provider, the processing required and the circumstances in which the image was submitted.

Where personal information is no longer required and we are not required or permitted by law to retain it, we will take reasonable steps to delete or de-identify it in accordance with applicable privacy requirements.

Third-party providers may have their own retention periods and data-handling practices. Where applicable, these are governed by the relevant provider's privacy documentation and our arrangements with that provider.

11. Overseas Processing

Some third-party technology, artificial intelligence, cloud, hosting or image-processing providers used by east retails may operate outside Australia.

As a result, an image or related personal information submitted through Search by Image may be processed or disclosed to recipients located outside Australia.

Where applicable, east retails will take reasonable steps to address overseas disclosures in accordance with applicable Australian privacy requirements.

Where it is practicable and applicable, our main Privacy Policy will identify relevant countries or regions where personal information may be disclosed.

12. Security

east retails takes reasonable steps to protect information we hold from misuse, interference, loss and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.

We also take reasonable steps when selecting and using third-party technology providers that process information on our behalf.

However, no online service, internet transmission or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

For this reason, you should avoid uploading unnecessary personal, sensitive or confidential information.

13. Search Results and Accuracy

Search by Image uses automated technology and third-party image-analysis services and may not always accurately identify the contents of an image.

Search results may therefore be incomplete, inaccurate or different from what you expected.

Search results should not be treated as a guarantee that a product shown in an image is available, identical, authentic or suitable for your intended purpose.

14. Your Responsibilities

You are responsible for the images you submit through Search by Image.

You must ensure that you have the necessary rights, permissions or lawful authority to upload an image.

You must not use Search by Image to upload content that violates another person's privacy, intellectual property rights or other legal rights.

You should only upload images that are necessary for the purpose of searching for products.

15. Access and Correction

Depending on your circumstances and applicable law, you may have rights to request access to personal information we hold about you and to request that inaccurate information be corrected.

If you have a question or request relating to an image submitted through Search by Image or personal information associated with your use of the feature, you can contact east retails using the contact details provided in our main Privacy Policy.

16. Privacy Complaints

If you believe that east retails has mishandled your personal information in connection with Search by Image, you may contact us using the contact details provided in our main Privacy Policy.

We will review and handle privacy complaints in accordance with our privacy procedures and applicable privacy laws.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may have the right to contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).

17. Changes to This Policy

east retails reserves the right to modify, update, replace or otherwise change this Search by Image Privacy Policy at any time and at our discretion.

Changes may be made without prior notice or individual notification.

Any changes will become effective when the updated policy is published on our website.

You are responsible for reviewing the current version of this policy before using Search by Image.

Your continued use of Search by Image after an updated policy has been published constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

18. Related Policies

This Search by Image Privacy Policy should be read together with our main Privacy Policy, Terms of Service and Search by Image Terms of Use.

Our Search by Image Terms of Use explains the rules governing acceptable and prohibited use of the feature.

19. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns or requests regarding this Search by Image Privacy Policy or the handling of images submitted through Search by Image, please contact east retails using the contact details provided in our main Privacy Policy and for more information contact more.info@eastretails.com.au